The Performing Arts at Hamilton and the Mohawk Valley Dance Partnership will present HT Chen and Dancers in a work titled "Bian Dan," on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. at Wellin Hall in the Schambach Center for Music and the Performing Arts.
Chen & Dancers is an innovative modern dance company, which has created a brilliant Chinese-American expression by embodying the cultural heritage of bold nations. The company has enchanted audiences across the U.S., Europe and Asia. Their a dynamic fusion of the spirited energy of American modern dance and the poise of traditional and contemporary Asian aesthetics is the outgrowth of Shanghai-born Artistic Director H.T. Chen's background in ballet, modern dance and traditional Chinese dance.
"Bian Dan," Chen's latest full-length creation, gets its name from the Chinese word for the bamboo pole used to carry heavy loads. These poles figure prominently in the dance, a work about the immigrant experience, the shifting from one culture to the next. A kaleidoscope of images, including slides and film projections of family scenes, propel the dance through shifting images of cultural dynamics. Involving company dancers and community participants, the work builds to an exhilarating climax.
The Chicago Tribune says, "Bian Dan is a joyous affair, if you care anything about dance and/or community spirit, you should see it."
This performance is the culmination of a three-week residency that draws on the talents of community dancers from across the Mohawk Valley. Eighteen children and adult participants and 11 Hamilton College students will be included on stage as part of the production.
This presentation is a project of the Mohawk Valley Dance Partnership, which combines the talents and resources of three community partners: Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, Hamilton College and the Central New York Community Arts Council Arts in Education Institute.
This performance is made possible by the New York State DanceForce, a statewide consortium of choreographers, arts organizations, presenters and educators. The DanceForce receives major sponsorship from the New York State Council on the Arts and Philip Morris Companies Inc. Administered by Dance Theater Workshop and Danspace Project, DanceForce programs include artist residencies, community outreach activities and dance programming that link artist and communities across New York.
Bian Dan is a co-commissioning project by the Painted Bride Art Center in partnership with Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute and the National Performance Network (NPN) Creation Fund. The Creation Fund is sponsored by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
The NPN is an independently incorporated organization, originally founded by Dance Theater workshop in cooperation with arts organizations across the United States. The Network is made possible with major funding from The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts (a federal agency).
Tickets for the performance are $15 adult, $10 senior and $5 student. All seating is general admission. For reservations or for more information, call the Hamilton College Performing Arts ticket office at (315) 859-4331 or the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute at (800) 754-0797 or 797-0055. Tickets are also available online at www.mwpi.edu.
